Leadership Report
Sandra gave me some feedback during Saturday sport that the Principal Report needed to up its entertainment value. At Newlands, we always appreciate feedback... but Sandra, Saturday morning during a Newlands Unidos Elimination Final?
Thankfully, I don’t have to look too far for entertainment, because there cannot be much more entertaining than tonight’s Newlands Comedy Gala! For the last four years, the Comedy Gala has given Newlands parents something truly special: a night without their kids, where they can sit back and enjoy humour ranging from the highest levels of intelligent comedy right through to the absolute basement bin. The great thing about comedy is that you get to decide which is which!
A massive thank you to Declan Fay, Josh Earl and our wonderful PFA, who are once again putting together an extravaganza to finish Term 3 in style. And because apparently comedy alone wasn’t enough, we’ve decided to take things up another notch. Joining the night will be the Newlands Parent Battle of the Bands... Escuela de Rock!
It’s not too late to get involved. Come on down tonight, have a laugh, enjoy the music and celebrate the end of another huge term at Newlands!
Grade 1/2
I walked into the 1/2A classroom to find all of the students finishing off their persuasive writing pieces. There were plenty of important issues being debated, including the classics: Penguins Are Not Ugly, Cats Are Way Better Than Dogs, Cats Are Weird and Why the Lorax Is the Best Book.
The arguments were strong, emotive and, at times, hilarious. The students were also very excited about having their finished pieces displayed in the classroom. With Term 3 nearly finished, I asked them what the best thing about Newlands had been this term:
Noorie: “Taco Fridays have been the best. They have been delicious and a great way to finish the week.”
Lucas: “Having lots more sports in the school. Football Club at second recess has been so much fun.”
Sofia: “Athletics Day was so fun. We all had a great time. Darebin Celeste is my house and we won!”
Elowen: “Writing persuasive texts. I feel like I have learnt a lot and I really love writing.”
Quinton: “I just really like recess and playing with my friends.”
Morgan: “Soccer after school on Tuesdays has been so fun. I look forward to it every week.”
Billie: “The before-school activities have been so much fun. I love playing Basketball.”
Tacos, sport, writing and recess – a pretty good summary of Term 3!
Grade 3/4
All of the students in Grade 3/4 are completing their Spanish information texts about landmarks and natural wonders across Latin America. Oliver’s report was about Colombia’s Caño Cristales, Gene wrote about Peru’s Machu Picchu, and Layla was writing about Lago de Coatepeque, a beautiful lake in El Salvador. The students were very excited to judge both my Spanish-speaking skills and my knowledge of Latin American geography. Apparently, I have some work to do in both areas.
I decided to quickly change the subject and ask what they were most looking forward to in Term 4:
Layla: “I can’t wait to do DARE Drama next term.”
Apollo: “I am joining the Muay Thai before-school activity next term.”
Oliver: “I can’t wait for Brunswick Lacrosse before school.”
Flora: “I want Icy Pole Friday to come back.”
Gene: “I am joining the Wrestling before-school club next term and I’m pumped about it.”
Grace: “Before-School Activities! I am doing Basketball, Zumba, Fencing and Wrestling.”
Ace: “I can’t wait for Christmas!”
Ace is clearly looking a little further ahead than everyone else.
The other strong message from the Grade 3/4s was simple: they are demanding more Newlands merch in Term 4. I’ll see what I can do.
Foundation
In Foundation, I sat next to Hazel, who was very proudly showing me everything she knew about the number 16. She represented 16 in a tens frame, drew 16 strawberries, wrote the numeral and then counted all the way to 16 in Spanish. She was incredibly confident and very proud of the work she was doing. While everyone else worked away, I asked the Foundation students about their favourite moments from Term 3:
Olina: “My favourite thing has been before-school Wrestling with my Dad.”
Hazel: “I loved the production and performing for my family.”
Florian: “I have been doing Wrestling before school and next term I am doing Pottery as well.”
Alfie: “I love doing Basketball before school and I am doing it again next term. I am joining the Newlands Unidos basketball team.”
Omi: “I just love recess every day because I get to practise swinging on the monkey bars.”
Ellis: “I love all the specialists. Sport is really fun and I am really fast. STEAM because I get to learn facts I didn’t know, and Art and Music because I love both of them.”
Wila: “I have loved learning this term, especially Maths in Spanish.”
Alba: “Art has been awesome, especially drawing lots of monsters.”
Maddie: “I love Mushroom Tiggy.”
Clem: “We had a really fun incursion with the Flying Bookworm. Some of the kids got to perform in the show.”
Isla: “I loved the Book Parade because I got to dress up as a rainbow dragon.”
I’m not sure you can get a better Term 3 review than wrestling, basketball, Maths in Spanish, monsters, Mushroom Tiggy and a rainbow dragon.
Grade 5/6
I jumped into 5/6C Music, where all of the students were creating songs using multiple instruments. As a previous riff master, I can confidently say there is a lot of musical talent in the 5/6C area. Whether the students would agree with my self-appointed title of riff master is another question.
As they were wrapping up the class, I asked what they were most looking forward to in Term 4:
Eadith: “All the Grade 6 things like Big Day Out, Graduation and Transition.”
Wren: “I can’t wait for the Bilingual World Cup.”
Angus: “I can’t wait for the Lacrosse Tournament and the before-school club.”
Molly: “I can’t wait for the Before-School Drama Club.”
Taylor: “Being with all of the Grade 6s for our last term at Newlands.”
That last one is a reminder that for our Grade 6 students, next term is going to be a very special one. There are plenty of big events ahead, but most importantly, they have one final term together as Newlands students.
Parent-Teacher Interviews – One Location!
A quick reminder that all Parent-Teacher Interviews will take place in the Gymnasium next week.
One piece of feedback we have received is that it has sometimes been difficult for families to work out exactly where their interviews are taking place. We have listened!
To make things much easier, all interviews will now be held in the Gymnasium. We have kindly asked Raul to move his program outside next week so we can turn the Gym into our Parent-Teacher Interview hub.
Hopefully, this means less wandering around the school trying to find the right classroom and more time having valuable conversations with your child’s teachers.
Celebrating an Incredible 36 Years at Newlands!
Next Friday, the incredible Sonya’s 36-year tenure at Newlands Primary School will come to an end.
For more than three decades, Sonya has been an enormous part of the Newlands community, making an incredible contribution to our students, families and staff. Her commitment, care and dedication to Newlands Primary School and the Department of Education over 36 years is something truly worth celebrating.
Our final assembly next Friday will be a celebration of all things Sonya, as we recognise her remarkable career and, most importantly, say a very big thank you for everything she has given to our school.
We hope as many families as possible can join us for this special occasion and help us give Sonya the Newlands farewell she deserves!
Next Week – We’re Off to Paraguay!
We are off to Paraguay next week!
Our whole-school bilingual journey continues as we turn our attention to Paraguay, with students across the school exploring its language, food, geography, culture, history, music and traditions.
There are already some fantastic activities planned across the school, including making Sopa Paraguaya in Foundation, exploring Paraguay’s geography and animals in Grade 1/2, storytelling and traditional dancing in Grade 3/4, and learning about the Guaraní language and Indigenous peoples of Paraguay in Grade 5/6.
It should be a fantastic way to finish Term 3 and another opportunity for our students to experience what makes our bilingual program so special.
And speaking of finishing Term 3, Comedy Gala tonight!
Sandra, I hope this Principal Report was entertaining enough.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Thanks,
Luke